Church cannot giue authority unto it The second Use serves to admonish us to receive the Scriptures for themselves for their owne authority and not for any mans authority whatsoever not for any mans person nor upon the authority of the Church for if we doe so we cannot have true saving faith Every man ought to receive the Scripture for its owne authority not that any man should condemn the authority of the Church but he may not depend onely upon it no not upon Saint Paul himselfe but must search the Scriptures to see whether it be so or no we ought not to receive the testimony of any Church in the world except it be grounded upon the Scripture we will use that which Aquinas saith of the woman of Samaria we may use the helpe of an enemy when she told them what things Christ did they beleeved but when they came to Christ himselfe they beleeved not for her saying but because they heard him themselves so we use the authority of the Church as a meanes to come to beleeve but when we beleeve let us not beleeve for the saying of the Church but for the Scriptures themselves Vse 3. This is to admonish every man when he hath received the Word to know it is the truth of God and therefore to labour to make it the Cannon of his faith for the authority it hath in it selfe we ought to examine our selves by this Word Hast thou done any thing that hath not this ground repent of it and for the time to come labour to make this the Cannon of thy life and the rule of thy obedience Art thou tempted by thy owne corruptions or by any other aske them Is there any such Word that will give leave if not thou must beleeve and hold to this for this is the Cannon by which thou oughtest to do all things Hierome complaines of some in his time who did wrest the Law to their owne wils and not their wils to the Law but we must be farre from this for whosoever walks after this rule Gal. 6. mercy and peace shall be to him but if he walke not after this rule he shall have judgement mercilesse Quest The next question is what is the sufficiencie of this Word Answ The answer is that it is that by which it is perfected concerning all things necessary to salvation that place which the Apostle hath 2 Tim. 3.17 doth prove this it is able to make the man of God wise unto salvation and therefore it is sufficient so Deut. 12.32 Thou shalt keepe all these Commandements thou shalt adde naught thereto nor take ought therefrom and therefore it must needs be perfect that to which nothing can be added and from which nothing can be taken must needs be perfect also Psal 19.7 the Law of the Lord is perfect Revel 22. Whosoever shall adde unto this booke God shall adde unto them the plagues that are written in this booke Thus the Word testifies of it selfe and therefore seeing the Word is true it must needs be a perfect rule Quest What Reason doe you shew for further proofe of this Answ First because it was the written Will and testimony of God Secondly Because after the Lord had given the Law in writing the Jewes were never guided by any unwritten word Thirdly Because Christ and his Apostles never proved their Doctrine by any unwritten word To explane these First It is the written Will and testimony of God therefore we call these the old and new Testament a mans will after it is confirmed no estate will admit to be altred therefore if we may not alter mans will much lesse may we alter Gods Secondly It is sufficient because that after the Lord had given his Law in writing the Jewes were never guided by traditions before the giving of the Law the truth went from hand to hand but after that God had written the Law they never came to him but upon some especiall occasion as for the Blasphemer c. Bellarmine confesseth this that there are some Catholiques speake with great probability that the Jewes after God had written the Law had no traditions Austin saith in the old Testament the Gospell was hid but in the new Testament it was made more plaine If God would teach the Jewes by nothing but by the written Word when it was more obscure much lesse us who have it more cleare Thirdly Because whatsoever Christ and his Apostles taught they proved by the written Word thus saith a Prophet and thus saith the Psalmes nay certainly Christ opposed traditions when he found that their authority corrupted the Law Mat. 5. but I say unto you rejecting those traditions the true word of God is this therefore the conclusion is that the Scriptures are a perfect rule containing all things to be beleeved and done Vse 1. The first Use teacheth us that then must fall to the ground all unwritten traditions the ground of all which is said to be the insufficiency of the Scriptures but if the Scriptures be sufficient then traditions have nothing to leane upon but it is blasphemie to thinke that God would not perfect that Word he began and therefore traditions are nothing Oh! say they the Scriptures doe not containe all fundamentall points for faith To this I answer If they had said the Scriptures doe not containe all the fundamentall points of their faith I would willingly subscribe to it the word of God no where speakes of Saint Peters successours the word no where speakes of invocation of Saints prayer for the dead indulgences and pardons these things the Scripture doth not containe but these are all of them contrary to the foundation but we beleeve nothing as necessary to salvation besides the Scripture We doe not doubt but that the Saints kept many excellent speeches and sayings of Christ as that in the Acts as the Lord said it is a more blessed thing to give then to receive but if there be any such tradition that is not for substance to be found in the word that we reject because the Scriptures are sufficient for the conclusion we will end with a speech of St. Austin I seek in the Gospell if I finde it not there where shall I finde it so may I say if we find not traditions in the word where shall we find them Vse 2. This teacheth the Ministers of God that they must prove the Doctrine they teach unto the people where shall they have that light no where but from the word they must not follow the vision of any man but only the word wherein God hath comprized every thing that he will have his people taught as it was in the creation the light was at large before the Sunne was created but after that was created God inclosed all light in the Sun so some time the word of God was taught from hand to hand God informed some and they taught others but after that God had written the Scriptures all were to receive their light
asked hee desired two dayes more then the Tyrant asked him why he did so because saith hee the more I seek after him the farther off I am from finding him so that nature is obscure And secondly it is imperfect because that knowledge of nature without the Word knowes but a peece of God and therefore because God would have his Church know him perfectly he adds his Word to his works and in this reveales himselfe more fully and discovers those wonders which nature could not onely not discover but not comprehend being revealed as the great mystery of the Trinity c. 2. The knowledge of Nature is not a saving knowledge for though it knowes God as Creator yet it knowes him not as Redeemer John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them you finde eternall life and they are they that testifie of mee and therefore God adds his Word that he may be known as a Redeemer and Reconciler c. 3. The knowledge of the Word is not effectuall without the Spirit 1 Cor. 3.5 6. It is neither Paul nor Apollos c. but God that gives the increase The knowledge of the Word is outward but the knowledge of the Spirit is inward and man cannot teach inwardly and therefore there cannot be such a knowledge without the Spirit for man can but speake to the eare yea though he may presse it vehemently yet without the Spirit it is nothing God therefore hath joyned the Word and Spirit together and so the answer is cleered in these three things Use 1. Seeing that by the principles of Nature a man cannot come to saving knowledge hee must therefore labour for the knowledge of the Word of God hee must not be a stranger to the Word nor the Word a stranger to him that hee may know God If a man cannot be partaker of true happinesse but by the knowledge of God and if all saving knowledge be by the Word then it necessarily followes that hee must bee acquainted with the Word If hee bee a stranger to the Word and the Word a stranger to him surely he is a stranger to the life of God I will not stand to shew how the Divell bewitcheth many wise men that are carefull to provide for their children and bring them up in naturall knowledge but scorne this which we must most labour for to have the Word familiar we must hearken to the counsell of the Apostle Col. 3.16 to let the Word of God dwell plentifully in us in all wisdome Chrysostome pressing this place Let the Word dwell in you richly c. saith thus It is not Let the Word come into you as a stranger for a night but let it dwell in you as a familiar friend Why sir wee may know a sentence or two No but the Apostle saith Let the Word dwell plentifully in you If a man have learned some sentences by heart as children have learned whole books this is not that which the Apostle meanes but let it dwell in you in all wisdome where the Apostle will have us diligent to understand the Word Why so because there God hath revealed himselfe Pro. 2.5 If thou apply thy heart to instruction it is not if thou wilt read a Chapter or two but thou must beate thy head about it and apply thy heart unto it for what saith the Wise man in the 5. verse If thou search for her as for silver and gold then thou shalt understand the way of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God It is not to bee gotten by carelesnesse but as Christ saith Search the Scriptures as men doe when they have lost any thing as the woman that lost the groat it argues a diligent searching this is that the Authour to the Hebrews speaks of about which wee ought to have our wits exercised through long custome Bretheren It is inexcusable if not damnable idlenesse in many men that they have no heart to read the Scriptures Whatsoever you pretend that you cannot for your callings I tell you that neither your callings nor the works of your callings will excuse you in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed you doe abuse God you ought to afford your selves time and you must afford your selves so much time you have time enough to spend in courting and in wantonnesse and in other idle vanities Will you have Christ to know you and acknowledge you when your callings and all other vanities are gone and cease what a question is this who would not have that willingly then must you take care to know Christ here or else he will not know you hereafter Use 2. Seeing that this is so then every man should labour for the Spirit of God that hee may be able to profit by the Word preached or read Without him a man may have a knowledge but not a saving knowledge It is an excellent benefit for a man to have good teachers but it is no benefit in comparison of this that the Spirit becomes our teacher for who teacheth like him Job 36.22 therefore labour for this teacher Saint Augustine saith the teachers are without but hee sits in heaven that must teach the heart therefore looke to him wee can but make a noise in your eares by any our most earnest expressions and vehement cries but it must bee the Spirit that makes all effectuall I pray you tell me saith the same Father what doth the Husbandman can hee doe any thing but the outward work doth he doe any thing inwardly can he make an apple can he make a leafe hee cannot it is God that doth that Aske the Apostle Saint Paul and hee will tell you It is Paul that plants and Apollos that waters but it is God that gives the increase therefore labour that you may have that annoynting you may not bee negligent of the Word which is the means that God will have used who will not give effectuall knowledge without it therefore Ministers must plant but if you will have fruit by the ministery you must labour to have the Spirit That which makes the Word unprofitable is that men look so much upon the husbandman therefore God doth oftentimes send a bad harvest Origen saith it is somewhat in the goodnesse of the ground and somewhat in the husbandman if the harvest bee good but saving knowledge is no where to bee looked for but from God therefore every man must labour earnestly to have the inward teacher It is said in Gen. 30.1 that Rachel was barren while she looks upon the husband but when she goes to prayer in verse 22. then she conceives so many of you looke too much upon your Ministers and therefore there is little profit but lift up your selves in prayer to God and hee will make you profit so that ye shall have the saving knowledge of God in this life and after this life salvation it selfe even life eternall c. CHAP. III. JOHN 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to have
eternall life and they are they which testifie of me WEE have heard of a twofold knowledge of God the one by Nature the other by Revelation and that is by the Word and Spirit by which you have heard how a man may come to saving knowledge Now to proceed The next question is Quest In what Word is this knowledge to be sought Answ It is to bee sought in the written Word of God the old and new Testament Seeing God hath revealed himselfe in his Word and that there is a sufficient knowledge to be found in it though not effectuall without the Spirit I think this seems reasonable that before we speak of God himself wee speak somthing of the holy Scriptures the fountain of knowledge in which God hath revealed himselfe to the world that we may know with what warrant we may ground our faith upon them Therefore it is necessary that wee know first what this Word is and then what Author it hath Answer is made that this saving knowledge is to bee sought and found in the written Word of God This is warranted upon that which I have read Search the Scriptures for they are they which testifie of me this is further confirmed Isa 8.20 To the Law to the Testimonies if question arise concerning God where shall wee finde answer To the Law and to the Testimonies goe to the written Word of God of this the Apostle saith in 2 Tim. 3.15 that it is able to make a man wise to salvation and therefore it carries in it the wisdome and knowledge of God by which a man must be saved Saint Peter also 1 Pet. 1.19 calls it a more sure Word making opposition betweene it and the word they heard from heaven in the holy mount to which wee ought to take heed as to a light shining c. Finally our Saviour Christ speaks of this in the Parable to the rich man They have Moses and the Prophets if they will know any thing concerning God faith repentance c. what need one be raised from the dead So then these testimonies shew that the saving knowledge of God is to be had in the old and new Testament This Question brings another and that is this Quest Why is knowledge to bee sought in the old and new Testament Answ First because this is the perfect rule conteining all things to be known and beleeved Secondly because it is a certaine and a sure rule Thirdly it is an infallible rule that neither deceives nor can bee deceived To explaine this Reas 1. Because it is a perfect rule therefore this knowledge is to be sought there Deut. 4.2 Thou shalt add nothing to it nor take any thing from it Add to it and thou makest it imperfect take from it and thou makest it no lesse imperfect because it is of it selfe an absolute and full rule The Apostle saith 2 Tim. 3.16 The word is given by inspiration to instruct rebuke c. It is able to make the man of God perfect c. It is full for all purposes for instruction correction c. and for all persons it perfects the Minister in his work and calling and if him then much more every other man Secondly It is a certain knowne rule That which is the rule of salvation must be a certaine knowne rule if it be unknowne it is no rule to those that shall bee saved The Word sometime from Adam to Moses was wholly unwritten yet then no doubt but God revealed himselfe to the faithfull But when the Church was growne up to bee a Nation and mixed with unfaithfull and faithfull God that hee might make a certaine rule by Moses writ his Word And that the Word was written for this end it appeares Luke 1.3 4. These things have I written unto thee most noble Theophilus that thou mightest bee certaine of these things there goes a report of Christ what he did and what hee suffered these things have I written that thou mightest be certaine and therefore our Saviour Christ being asked the question in the Gospel what was to be done to inherit eternall life hee answers How readest thou Luk. 10.26 Wilt thou be certaine then read the Scriptures and they will manifestly and surely declare what is to be done and give a perfect answer to such questions Thirdly we are to come now to the written Word because the written Word is an infallible rule an infallible rule is such a rule as cannot bee deceived nor deceive for if it could doe either it were not infallible but that the Word of God is such that it cannot deceive nor bee deceived I manifest it thus because God and his Word are one Truth therefore it cannot deceive John 17.17 Sanctifie them with thy Truth thy Word is Truth As light is not the cause of darknesse so the Word is not the cause of error This is a right rule saith S. Augustine thy Writings are my delight by them I shall never be deceived And this is the first point Use 1. If this bee so here are overthrowne all humane traditions which are by man added to the Scripture all traditions that are either written or carried from hand to hand are rejected whatsoever is taught without the Scripture is to be abhorred for the Word is the rule and he that brings any other doctrine let him be accursed Use 2. This serves to provoke men to labour for the knowledge of the Word Here I will take an occasion to speake of it because I see the carelesnesse of this age If there bee any amongst us that desire the knowledge of God then wee should labour for the knowledge of his Word Why because wee cannot know God unlesse wee know his Word This is ingratitude against God that hee should vouchsafe his Word and wee not labour to know it this is impiety against our selves that look to bee saved and yet neglect the knowledge of the Word that brings salvation There is a knowledge of God by nature but the remainder of the light that is in mans nature is marvellous dark Though the foolish heathen say If a man follow nature hee cannot erre wee know that nature is starke blinde in matters appertaining to God therefore men should labour to know the Word that it might dwell in them in all wisdome Saint Bernard saith This is the portion of the Jewes that they have the letter onely and so the portion of all hereticks and not of Christians Saint Augustine saith Oh unhappy hereticks which regard nothing but the outward sound of the letter having a body without a soule Therefore men that will have a bodie and a soul together must labour to have the understanding of the places that they read and to this end they must add meditation to their reading and constant and earnest prayer to God to their meditation that hee would give his spirit of wisdome and revelation and by this meanes they shall be able to search out hidden and secret things that are not
if the stile doth not agree to this of the Prophets and Apostles they are to be rejected If wee will know all true authority wee must know it by the stile for howsoever a false Writer may take to him the name and frame of another man yet hee cannot take his stile for as every man hath his severall countenance and severall colour that though two bee never so like yet there are some things whereby they may bee discerned so the writings of other men may bee knowne from the Scriptures on which the holy Ghost hath set such a stile as is not to bee found in all or any the writings of all the world besides Reas 3. The third ground was the consent of Christ and the Apostles with the Prophets that went before them the latter Prophets consent with the former and the former agree with them therefore this must needs be from a divine direction For amongst men who have written of the same subject wee may finde often variance but these did never really contradict one another there is no discrepance in them to bee found there were some thousands of yeers between the first Prophets writings and the Apostles and some thousands of miles betweene the Prophets and Apostles that wrote at the same time yet all doe agree together the ground is this because Truth as God is ever constant to it selfe Therefore the Prophet Jeremy reproves Hanani Jer. 28. because hee did not consent to the Prophets that went before him and the Apostle pronounceth an anathema against himselfe or an Angel or whosoever should teach any other doctrine All which shewes that there is a marvellous consent in the Scriptures and therefore they must needs be written by God and not by men Quest What other internall Arguments are there in the mindes of men to prove the Scripture the Word of God Answ It is proved first by the Spirit of God who witnesseth the same in the hearts of the Elect Secondly by the power and efficacie of the Word and the working it hath in the hearts of men To explaine this First the Spirit of God witnesseth this in the hearts of the Elect God is the best witnesse of himselfe so is the Spirit the best witnesse of the Word which is not beleeved untill it be settled in the heart of man by the Spirit that wrote it for till then wee reject it Some apply that of the Prophet Isa 59.21 My Spirit that I have put upon thee and my words that I have put in thy mouth c. In this manner the Spirit and the Word must agree together and continually bear witnesse each to other whatsoever is suggested by the Spirit and agreeth not with the Word is to bee rejected whatsoever is expressed in the Word is not beleeved till witnessed by the Spirit I add to these Christs owne speech to the Jewes John 8.42 43. who bragged that God was their Father if God bee your father why doe you not beleeve my words for if God be your Father then you have the Spirit of God but it is apparant that you have the Spirit of God because you beleeve not my words and therefore God is not your Father John 10.27 My sheepe heare my voice that is they doe acknowledge that this is my voice Ver. 16. I have other sheep that are not of this fold them also I must bring in and they shall heare my voice and ver 3 4. the shepheard calleth his sheep by name and they follow him and a stranger will they not follow where he sheweth that the sons of God have the Spirit of God in them whereby they are able to discerne the writings of God from other writings the Spirit of God giving them a cleare understanding to see and a perswasion to beleeve the truth of them and such a perswasion as no man knowes out of himselfe but in himselfe It is true as wee said before That the majestie of the stile and the consent of the Writers are great arguments to prove the Scriptures Gods Word but yet they give a man no assurance but onely breed in him a kinde of reverence as Salvian saith But if a man bee once enlightened with the Spirit of God hee rests not on his owne judgement nor on the judgement of all the world because hee hath inward judgement in himselfe which is the Spirit And thus much for the first internall argument The second argument is taken from the mindes of men and from the power and efficacie that the Word hath in the hearts and consciences of all men It hath a power to convert them to God to terrifie and awaken them and also to comfort them in distresses to wound them and to make them whole which no other writing can doe therefore it cannot be humane but divine This is manifest Psalm 19. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule No Philosopher can convert the heart though hee may bring men to outward civilitie like unto this The Word gives wisdome to the simple and therefore is divine It was that which made S. Paul to know that hee was dead for before the Law came hee was alive but when the Law came he was dead This the Apostle Saint Peter presseth to the Gentiles Act. 2.27 28. by which hee wounded them and with the same Word hee healed them no other Word could ever bring them to despaire of their owne righteousnesse no other could sustaine them despairing this is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 Finally it is powerfull in operation Heb. 4.11 it is mighty to make a man at variance with himselfe the father against his sonne the mother against the daughter nothing was ever able to doe this but the Word of God Quest What externall proofes are there Answ First the fulfilling of the Prophecies in the Scripture in the same manner and the same circumstances in the same time and in the same persons things many hundred yeers before foretold are so accomplished as foretold this therefore cannot bee but a divine prediction Isa 41.22 The Prophet speaks of the Idols Come and let them tell us what shall come to passe hereafter arguing that to doe so must bee a divine thing The Divell cannot foretell things to come hee may ghesse at them but hee hath alwaies his shifting holes but the holy Scripture hath set downe in plaine termes the time and the persons and other circustances as 1 Reg. 13.2 Isa 45.1 Gen. 15.13 c. therefore it must needs bee a divine wisdome that did indite and inspire them Secondly The second externall argument is the antiquity of these they are ancienter then any other writings whatsoever the Egyptians indeed brag That they had writings before Moses but it is nothing but bragging and untruth Thirdly The great opposition that hath beene made against them and their preservation It is true that Aristotle burnt the books of his Master Plato a great Philosopher that himselfe might bee the more observed
but hee could never burne them all he was but one and many opposed him But when whole Kingdomes and Countries even the whole world have violently for a long time and many ages set themselves against these and yet they are preserved the preservation of them argues a speciall divine care of them as of divine writings Mac. 1.7 Antiochus burnt this booke and made a law that whosoever had this book should die the death yet it is preserved that not so much as a syllable of it is wanting Writings and whatsoever else is of man may bee destroyed by man may faile of themselves as saith Gamaliel but the things of God and divine writings shall abide for ever See this difference in the writings of Solomon those of his owne wisdome are lost those inspired by God abide till this day c. Fourthly The persecutions that have been made at all times against the professors of this Book their constancy in beleeving it obeying it and laying downe their lives for it which none could have done had not the writing been divine Indeed a few desperate men have laid downe their lives for their owne writings but not any that hath so valiantly laid downe his life as the professors of the Gospel All these are sufficient proofes for this point Use 1. This must first teach us that the Word is cleare and plaine because the writing of God for the instruction of men certainly God would never write obscurely and in the darke 2 Pet. 1.13 It is a light in a darke place When we say it is plain and clear it is so in it self though the naturall man discerneth it not and to the regenerate man it may be hard Chrysostome saith the Saints never pray to God Make thy Law easie but Give us understanding and open our eyes that wee may see thy Law the truth is there are many difficulties in it but there is nothing difficult which in other places is not made plaine if necessary to salvation The Scripture as Saint Gregory saith is both meat and drink drink needs no chewing some places are easie that they need no chewing and some places are hard to stir up men to seek them out 2 Pet. 3.16 There are many things in Saint Pauls Epistles that are hard but to whom to the ignorant they are easie in themselves and to the regenerate therefore saith one What need have we of Commentaries added to the Word if Commentaries add not light to the Word but the Word makes Commentaries light Use 2. This teacheth us that because the Word was written to every man therefore every man was bound to studie it and to read it and seeing the Word was inspired by the Spirit of God therefore when a man goes about to read it and heare it hee ought to pray for understanding and for Gods Spirit by which hee writ it for they that wrote it did it not without Gods Spirit men should pray that God would give them his Spirit of wisdome to open their understandings surely the greatest light in the world cannot make a blinde man see in the mid-day an eye that hath not internall light cannot see The Scriptures in the old and new Testament are the two great lights that God hath ordained to rule the Church which though they shine never so brightly yet there is required an internall light in man that they may be seene A man may looke up to the heavens saith Saint Chrysostome where God doth sit and yet not know God nor see him shut up in heaven So many men reade the Scriptures and yet see not God shut up in them No man knowes what is in man but the Spirit of man and wee have received the Spirit of God that we might know the things that are given us of God The Wisdome of God hath given the Spirit to man whereby hee is able to discerne If so be a King should write a Letter to his subjects in a strange language and not send his Secretary to interpret it they were never the better nor wee for the Scriptures without the Spirit Justin Martyr saith that Ptolomy wrote to the King of Judah for the Law and withall hee desired him to send him a man that might make him to understand it So they that will understand the language of the Scriptures must have the Spirit of God If a man had the Prophets themselves to preach to him they cannot make a man understand to salvation why because they can but teach the eare they cannot teach the heart When I cannot have Moses to tell mee the meaning saith Saint Augustine give mee that Spirit that thou gavest to Moses And this is that which every man that will understand must pray for this David prayed for Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy Law and vers 19. hide not thy Commandements from mee and Christ saith If you being evill can give good things to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his holy Spirit to them that ask of him Luk. 11.13 So that then wee shall see the secrets of God Use 3. If any man pray for the Spirit of God he must not think it comes without means and therefore neglect reading It is Gods finger that presseth the diligent care of reading and it is the means whereby wee may come to have the Spirit you must not look to have the Spirit in your heart unlesse you have the Word in your mouth that is the continuall reading thereof neither preferr a little ease before the Booke of God Thou hast no part in the Spirit if thou hast not a great desire to have a great part in the knowledge of the Word of God Use 4. In the fourth place Did God write it Then ought wee to make application of every part of it of the promises and of the threatnings and of the commandements c. Of the promises because it was God that promised them and hee will confirme and make them good of the commandements because if thou disobey them he is a just God and hee will be revenged of every contemner of the threatnings because if they had been written by man a mans word might have beene contemned but whither shall wee flee from God Therefore think of this Word and labour to apply it and give obedience to it they are Gods owne Lawes and it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God therefore let us feare and obey that which is Gods Commandement lest for our neglect he throw us to everlasting destruction CHAP. V. 2 TIM 3.16 All Scriptures are given by divine inspiration of God and are profitable THe last day wee spake concerning the Scriptures and therein wee handled the Author that wrote them and from whom they did flow and you heard it was from God himselfe and that by divine inspiration It remaineth then that wee should speake of the second thing that wee have thought fit to
bee spoken of viz. The dignity of the Word which hath two parts the first the Authority of it the second the Sufficiencie of it because wee are to build on it and to rest upon it as the ground and rule of Faith and these are the two things which wee will handle at this time For the former of these Quest What is the authority of the written word Answ It is that by which it is authenticall and worthy of credit in it selfe being the divine and onely Canon and Rule for all things to bee beleeved and done That the Word of God hath this authority this verse which I have read doth prove So also Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimonies if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them if questions be asked about the dead To the Law and to the Testimonies whatsoever others say reject it this hath authority of it selfe to this is added 2 Pet. 1.19 Wee have also a more sure Word to these I add Gal. 6.16 As many men as walk after this rule peace be on them this is the rule of all things Joh. 2.16 If any man bring any other Doctrine bid him not to thy house where the word sheweth that there is no other word of any authority but this Word thus the Word witnesseth of it selfe therefore it must be true John 10.35 the Word cannot be broken therefore it must bee of that authority worthy of credit in it selfe and being divine wee must beleeve it and it must bee the Rule and Canon by which all things must bee done And this is the proofe of the first point Quest What ground have you for this that the Scriptures are thus authenticall Ans There are these First because they are Gods word to whom it belongs to appoint every one a cannon and rule that must give them direction to all things to be beleeved and done Secondly Because God hath written them for this end that they might be such a rule that might be alwayes in the Church that men should not dare to swerve from it Thirdly Because this Word is the first divine truth of God himself To explane these first they are Gods word c. This is manifest of it self that it belongs to God to appoint a rule and a cannon we further confirme this thus Deut. 7.11 Keepe my commandements my statutes and my judgements why so because they are my statutes I command you the Word is a lanterne to my feet saith David Psal 119.105 Thou shalt keepe my statutes so that if we enquire into the ground what the reason of the authority of the Scripture is it is manifest it is authenticall because it is the word of God who should teach me saith Saint Ambrose the things that appertaine to heaven God and not man Who can better teach me concerning God then God All other Divine things had need of testimony saith Salvian but onely these things spoken by God need no more testimony while therefore it is God that hath wrote this and he onely hath Divine authority therefore this must needs be of Divine authority The second answer was thus much because that this was written by God to that end that the Church might alway have a rule from which it should not dare to swerve Deut. 5.32 Take heed to my statutes turne not to the right hand nor to the left and that Rom. 15.4 These things were written that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope therefore from hence it is manifest that they are written to be a rule Thirdly because that this is the first divine trueth of God himselfe therefore it hath this name Ephes 1.13 Iohn 17.17 thy Word is truth with an emphasis that there is no truth but this so Ephes 2.20 it is the foundation of the Church it is builded upon the Apostles and Prophets we say it is the first truth of God himselfe because it must be first beleeved before we can beleeve by a divine faith any thing that is revealed in it faith doth first spring out of it and is last of all resolved into it and so it is the first truth This is the principle of principles and though it be not beleeved yet it hath the same authority gold is gold though no man have it the Sunne in the first day it was created was to rule the day and measure time though there was neither man nor beast to take notice of it In the Gnomen of a diall the shadow of it shewes the houres of the day though men sleepe principles in all Arts are to be granted are not denied without grosse absurdities Here are our first principles that there is a God that God hath a Word that the Scripture is the Word of God these are and ought to be assented unto by whosoever would be called Christian the denying of any one of these is to open the gate to Atheisme and all prophanesse so then this is manifest that this Word of God is of Divine authority The first Use then teacheth us that then fals to the ground the Doctrine of Popery that tels us that the Scriptures have no authority but from the Church some have spoken very blasphemously of the Word of God one for all the President of the Councell of Trent saith that the Scriptures have no more authority then Esops Fables without authority from the Church of Rome and others say they have no more authority then any other prophane books others more moderate say they have no more authority in them then they receive from the Church the question is not what authority the Church doth give to the Scriptures but what authority they have in themselves the Church can but declare their authority the Scriptures have it in themselves I had not beleeved the Scripture saith Austin We never denied that the Church hath excellent Offices concerning the Scriptures as first it is to keep them and preserve them therefore the Church is compared to a publique Notary like to the Court of Rowles the Master of the Roles gives no authority to Records but keepes them Secondly the Church is to publish the Scriptures therefore she is compared to a crier and this is the fidelity of the crier to publish the speech of the Prince and the Churches duty is to publish the Law of God The third office it hath is to discern the true Scriptures from forgeries and apocryphall It cannot make that which is Apocrypha Canonicall but it hath a power in discerning which are Apocryphall which Canonicall as it is in a City the Magistrates receiving a letter as from the Prince out of their experience are able to discerne whether it be the Princes letter or not so they that are Gods Ministers can do nothing but discerne the Word they cannot give any authority to it we conclude the Scripture hath authority in it selfe Ephe. 2.20 It is the foundation of the Church then the